SDG 14. Life Below Water

SDG 14 — Life Below Water

Commitment to Ocean and Aquatic Sustainability

Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA) recognises the critical importance of healthy aquatic and marine ecosystems for global sustainability. Although located inland, the university contributes significantly to SDG 14 “Life Below Water” through education, research, innovation, and community action aimed at protecting rivers, lakes, and marine environments connected to the Dnipro Basin and the Black Sea.

KNUCA integrates marine sustainability, aquatic biodiversity conservation, and pollution reduction into its curricula, campus operations, and outreach programmes. The university’s mission is to reduce water pollution, restore aquatic ecosystems, and promote sustainable management of marine and freshwater resources through scientific excellence and civic responsibility.

Research on Aquatic and Marine Ecosystems

Research under SDG 14 is one of KNUCA’s strongest areas of interdisciplinary collaboration. The university’s scientists and doctoral students study water quality, sediment pollution, river-to-sea interactions, microplastics, wastewater management, and aquatic biodiversity. Many projects are aligned with the Elsevier SDG 14 keyword set and are published in Scopus-indexed journals focusing on environmental engineering, hydrology, and oceanography.

Recent studies have addressed the impact of urban wastewater on river ecosystems, monitoring of microplastics and heavy metals, and assessment of nutrient loads contributing to eutrophication in the Dnipro and Black Sea regions. Researchers use advanced GIS mapping, satellite remote sensing, and IoT-based sensors to monitor hydrological changes and pollution levels.

KNUCA cooperates with the Institute of Hydrobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the State Agency for Water Resources, and international partners from Poland, Lithuania, and Denmark in projects related to marine ecosystem restoration, coastal resilience, and sustainable wastewater infrastructure.

Campus and Operational Initiatives

Even as an inland university, KNUCA recognises that river pollution directly affects marine health. Therefore, the university has developed policies to ensure that all wastewater produced on campus undergoes primary treatment before being discharged into municipal systems. A pilot greywater recycling station reduces freshwater demand and prevents nutrient-rich effluent from reaching natural waterways.

The “Blue Campus Initiative” launched in 2023 promotes plastic-free practices, marine waste prevention, and sustainable procurement. Single-use plastics have been replaced with biodegradable or reusable alternatives in cafeterias and laboratories. Student eco-volunteers collect and sort waste under the Clean Rivers — Clean Sea campaign, linking inland behaviour with marine outcomes.

Landscape management around the KNUCA campus integrates rainwater harvesting and green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff, which often carries microplastics and chemicals to river systems. Educational signage across the campus raises awareness of the connection between urban waste and ocean pollution.

Water Pollution Control and Wastewater Management

KNUCA engineers develop cutting-edge technologies for wastewater treatment, nutrient recovery, and pollution mitigation. The Environmental Engineering Department designs eco-sanitation systems, constructed wetlands, and low-energy bioreactors for small communities and industrial areas. These innovations are shared with local municipalities through training and demonstration projects.

The university’s wastewater research lab analyses parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, and microplastic content in samples collected from urban and rural areas. The results support the development of national standards for clean water discharge and inform Ukraine’s commitments to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Education, Training, and Awareness

Marine and aquatic sustainability are integrated across the curricula in environmental engineering, urban ecology, hydrotechnical construction, and coastal planning. Students study subjects including marine hydrology, ocean systems, climate change impacts on aquatic biodiversity, and sustainable fisheries management.

KNUCA organises annual “Water and Life” weeks and public lectures on marine pollution, ocean acidification, and sustainable coastal design. In 2024, over 1 200 students participated in interdisciplinary seminars on blue economy and green infrastructure. Educational campaigns such as “From River to Sea — Our Responsibility” engage the public in clean-up activities and awareness actions for the World Oceans Day.

Community Engagement and Partnerships

KNUCA’s SDG 14 projects extend beyond academia into community and governmental collaboration. Through partnerships with Kyiv Eco-Alliance, the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute, and UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission programmes, the university supports monitoring of river-borne pollutants entering the Black Sea and develops methods for reducing nutrient inflow from agriculture and urban runoff.

Student and staff volunteers regularly participate in riverbank restoration and waste-collection campaigns along the Dnipro, Lybid, and small tributaries of Kyiv. These initiatives demonstrate practical engagement with the concept of “coast-to-coast sustainability”, promoting local actions for global marine health.

Internationally, KNUCA contributes to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) through academic exchanges, co-authored research, and conferences focused on sustainable coastal engineering and blue-economy innovation.

Policy and Governance

The university has adopted an institutional Marine and Aquatic Ecosystems Policy covering pollution prevention, water efficiency, and biodiversity protection. This policy is part of KNUCA’s internal Environmental Management System and ensures compliance with ISO 14001 standards and Ukrainian water legislation.

The policy commits the university to:

• eliminate single-use plastics and prevent marine litter;
  
  
• maintain zero discharge of untreated wastewater;
  
  
• promote sustainable water use and sanitation across all departments;
  
  
• provide public evidence of environmental performance via open reports;
  
  
• support education and research on marine and freshwater sustainability.
  
  

All evidence of implementation—annual reports, monitoring results, and outreach documentation—is published on sdg.knuba.edu.ua to meet Existence + Evidence + Public Access criteria in the THE Impact Ratings 2026 methodology.

Research Impact and Innovation

KNUCA’s laboratories develop bio-based absorbents for oil spill cleanup, filtration membranes for desalination, and monitoring drones for aquatic ecosystems. Collaborative teams test marine-inspired materials and corrosion-resistant coatings to extend infrastructure longevity in coastal environments.

These innovations contribute to global efforts in marine engineering, environmental protection, and circular economy, strengthening Ukraine’s scientific visibility within the international blue-economy research community.

The university also supports start-ups and spin-off projects that apply these technologies in municipal water management, fish-farming, and environmental monitoring.

Transparency and Reporting

Every year, KNUCA publishes data on pollution reduction, wastewater reuse, plastic elimination, and student involvement in sustainability projects. Indicators are harmonised with the THE Impact Ratings 2026 framework (metrics 14.1 – 14.4). Data for 2024 show a 10 % decrease in single-use plastics and a 15 % improvement in wastewater reuse efficiency.

Open access to these indicators ensures transparency and accountability, reinforcing the university’s reputation as a national leader in sustainable construction and environmental management.

Future Goals

By 2030, KNUCA aims to:

• establish a Regional Centre for Blue Economy and Coastal Resilience;
  
  
• reduce plastic waste on campus by 80 % compared to 2020 levels;
  
  
• achieve 100 % pre-treatment of wastewater before municipal discharge;
  
  
• introduce a Master’s programme in Marine and Aquatic Engineering;
  
  
• expand partnerships with EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP);
  
  
• publish annual Water and Marine Sustainability Reports in open-access format.